Target launches plant-based food line 1:00
New York (CNN Business) -
Say goodbye to last-minute shopping at Target on Thanksgiving.
Target said Monday that it will close all of its stores on Thanksgiving each year starting in 2021. Target closed stores last year on Thanksgiving due to the pandemic and had previously announced that it would close this Thanksgiving as well.
"What started as a pandemic-driven temporary measure is now our new norm," Target CEO Brian Cornell said in a note to employees.
Cornell said it decided to make this policy permanent after visiting Target stores last week in New York and New Jersey, where workers told it they were happy to be able to stay home for Thanksgiving.
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The pandemic pushed many other chains to close their doors on Thanksgiving last year, including Walmart, Best Buy and Dick's Sporting Goods.
These companies will be closing the holiday again this year, although none have made permanent changes to their policies from Thanksgiving going forward.
Target's announcement Monday was another sign of how Christmas shopping has changed in America.
While the holiday period used to be marked by a few big days, in recent years retailers have started their deals and events earlier and spread them out throughout the season, helping them avoid excess demand. that can overwhelm your stores and distribution networks.
This year, retailers pushed their offerings forward more than ever to stay ahead of supply chain problems and limit empty shelves.
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Store closings on Thanksgiving Day have been a source of tension between retailers and worker advocates in the past, especially as many retailers in recent years have opened their doors on the holiday to get ahead of the holidays. Black Friday sales.
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Critics have argued that workers should be home with their families on Thanksgiving.
In recent years, public pressure on retailers to close on Thanksgiving has waned.
Workers' rights groups have focused on broader issues like the minimum wage, benefits and hours.
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Some states, like Massachusetts, Maine and Rhode Island, have banned department stores from opening on Thanksgiving.
A California lawmaker proposed a law in 2016 that would have required some businesses to pay employees double for working on Thanksgiving, but it did not pass.
However, not all major retailers will close during this holiday.
Whole Foods, Kroger and Dollar General, among others, will remain open.
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